Ultimate Travel eSim Comparison: Price, Data, Network Coverage & More

Do you remember scrambling down the arrival hall trying to find THE store where you ordered your SIM card?

Because I do. And it’s definitely not fun when your airport transfer driver is waiting for you.

Gone were the days. We’re in an age where there are many other data options including Data Roaming and Pocket Wi-Fi. And now, eSIM.

This means you don’t have to collect your SIM cards anymore! Yes, you can purchase and activate eSIMs online, even before you arrive at your travel destination.

How does it work? What’s the best eSIM in the market? Are they cheaper in general?

Let’s find out!

TL;DR: Ultimate Travel eSIM Comparison Across Price, Data Capacity, Coverage, And Pros & Cons

Click here to jump:

• What is an eSIM?
• How to choose an aSIM?
• Pros and cons of using an eSIM
• Best for Regional Travellers
• Best for Asia
• Best for Heavy Data Users
• Best for Light Data Users

Disclaimer: Prices are obtained from the brands listed, and can be subject to change without prior notice. Information provided by Seedly does not constitute an offer, affiliation or solicitation to buy or sell any product(s). It does not take into account the specific objectives or particular needs of any person. We strongly advise readers to do their due diligence before making any purchases.

What Is An eSIM?

For the uninitiated, eSIM stands for “embedded SIM” or “electronic SIM.”

In short, it replaces physical SIM cards in mobile devices with a programmable chip soldered directly to the device’s motherboard. This chip can store multiple SIM profiles and be remotely provisioned with carrier information.

What’s The Difference Between Local eSIM and Regional eSIM?

A local eSIM plan offers service within a single country (e.g. Malaysia). In contrast, a regional eSIM plan extends coverage to multiple countries within a defined area, like Europe. Meanwhile, a global eSIM plan encompasses various countries across the world, including Germany, Thailand, Brazil, and more.

What’s Unlimited Data And Daily High-Speed Limit?

You might be confused when you see terminologies such as “Unlimited Data” and “1GB Daily Limit/1GB Daily High-Speed Usage” all on one single eSIM.

So, do you get unlimited data or not?

Yes, you still do.

An unlimited data plan typically means that you have access to a large amount of data for a fixed fee, and there is no specific limit on how much data you can use within a billing cycle.

When there is a “GB Daily Speed Data” on your Unlimited data plan, this type of plan provides you with a specific daily allocation of high-speed data, for example, 1GB.

This means you can use up to 1GB of data at high-speed (fast) internet rates each day. Once you exceed this 1GB limit, your data speeds may be reduced (throttled) for the remainder of the day, but you can still access the internet at a slower speed or with data usage limitations.

And for most eSIMs, the maximum daily speed limit is 2GB. For example, a 15-day unlimited data eSIM has a 30GB high-speed data limit, and its daily high-speed data is 2GB. After 2GB is used, you can still use unlimited Data, but the speed will slow down, and it will back to high speed again the next day.

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How to Choose An eSIM Card That Suits Your Needs

Choosing the right eSIM card that suits your needs involves considering several factors, including your usage patterns, travel plans, device compatibility, and budget.

Mainly, you need to determine if you are a frequent traveller, a remote worker, or simply looking for a flexible mobile data solution.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Know your typical data, voice, and text usage
2. Check Device Compatibility
3. Identify Your Coverage Needs
4. Consider Data Limits and Speeds
5. Compare Plan Costs
6. Read Reviews and Recommendations
7. Consider Long-Term vs. Short-Term
8. Check Plan Flexibility: Look for plans that offer flexibility, such as the ability to switch plans or add more data as needed. Avoid long-term commitments if you’re unsure about your future needs.

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Advantages And Disadvantages of an eSIM

Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of using an eSIM:

Now, if you are in for using an eSIM and are a budget traveller, here are the best eSIMs that suit different travelling patterns.

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Best for Regional Travellers

There are a few criteria (besides keeping cost low) we look at before deciding which eSIM provider is the best for regional travelling:

• Provides wide network coverage
• Provides instant activation
• Provides regional packages so you can switch providers easily

Among all shortlisted providers, Airalo has the widest network coverage of over 200 countries. Another option is Onesim.co, however, eSIMs for all regions except Europe & Middle East are sold out.

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Best for Asia

Travelling in Asia and Southeast Asia is especially common these days given that countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines are getting increasingly popular.

For those who are looking to travel within Southeast Asia, WeFly provides unlimited data at affordable prices, subject to the daily data limit and the number of days required.

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Best for Heavy Data Users

It’s worth noting that when there’s a flight delay if you’re a Jetpac eSIM user, you will be able to enjoy airport lounge access! This eSIM is also the best for heavy data users who are travelling in Asia, over a period of 30 days.

Moreover, if you’re looking at discounts Changi Recommends and Echo networks are having up to 50% and 65% sales on their eSIMs now.

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Best for Light Data Users

For those who want to stay off-grid most of the time, this is for you.

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Get Your eSIM With A Credit Card

Don’t forget to cart out with your favourite credit card to clock cashback or miles!

Also, don’t forget to get travel insurance in case of any travel disruptions.

Which card would you be getting? Tell us in the Seedly Community!

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